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COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y., Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- More than $4.5 million was raised last night at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's (CSHL) 12th Double Helix Medals dinner (DHMD). The gala was held at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City and honored Tom Brokaw and Helen and Charles Dolan for their contributions to cancer research advocacy. Since the first DHMD honored Muhammad Ali in 2006 it has raised $40 million for the Laboratory's research and education programs.

"I would like to congratulate our honorees, Tom Brokaw, and Helen and Charles Dolan," said CSHL President and CEO, Dr. Bruce Stillman. "Tom is an advocate for multiple myeloma research but more than that, he is really an advocate for the experience of patients who have cancer, the difficulty of learning more about the disease and treatment.

"Honorary Trustees of Cold Spring Harbor, Helen and Chuck Dolan are true philanthropists. In addition to supporting Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, they were the earliest supporters of the DNA Learning Center, which teaches 32,000 middle and high school students annually in hands-on laboratory-based science classes, and countless more through its global outreach."

"For all those who are here tonight, this is not a singular occasion," said Tom Brokaw, the award-winning journalist and longtime NBC News anchorman.  "This is a commitment we must continue to make, not just to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, but to the whole wondrous world of medical science, a world that goes on 24/7. As we gather here tonight, in laboratories across this city and across America, there are people at microscopes doing the tests that they hope will unveil the secrets to the maladies that invade our bodies."

In recent years Brokaw has been a special correspondent for NBC News, reporting on such important topics such as medicine, AIDS, and global warming. After being diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Brokaw used the skills he honed as a journalist to speak on behalf of those suffering with cancer. His most recent book, A Lucky Life Interrupted: A Memoir of Hope documents this journey from patient to advocate.

Helen and Charles Dolan are recognized for their work in raising awareness for cancer research. Charles Dolan is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of The Lustgarten Foundation, which works on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pancreatic cancer and supports pancreatic cancer patients.

This year's honorees join the ranks of past Double Helix Medal recipients, including Alan Alda, Michael J. Fox, Temple Grandin, Katie Couric, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Evelyn Lauder, and John Nash, all of whom have boldly applied their talents toward improving human health and changing the world for the better.

The 2017 Double Helix Medals Dinner was chaired by Ms. Jamie C. Nicholls and Mr. O. Francis Biondi, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Burke, Kate Medina Guthart and Leo Guthart, Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Lindsay, Mr. Thomas M. Rutledge, Mr. Joshua Sapan, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Taubman, and Mr. Charles B. Wang and Ms. Nancy Li.

About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. Home to eight Nobel Prize winners, the private, not-for-profit Laboratory employs 1,100 people including 600 scientists, students and technicians. The Meetings & Courses Program annually hosts more than 12,000 scientists. The Laboratory's education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a graduate school and the DNA Learning Center with programs for middle and high school students and teachers. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu.

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SOURCE Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory